Sydney FC teenage sensation Akol Akon has caught the eye of clubs in Germany, England and the US, with the Sky Blues fielding seven-figure offers for the young winger.<\/p>\n
Akol, 17, made 15 A-League appearances for the Sky Blues last season, including a starting role in Sydney\u2019s 1-0 grand final loss to Auckland FC.<\/p>\n
Should the Sky Blues complete a sale for Akon \u2013 who earlier this month signed a contract extension with the Sydneysiders \u2013 he would remain with the club for the 2026-27 A-League season, as he doesn\u2019t turn 18 until May next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the past 12 months, we have been approached by a number of clubs and I have also proactively spoken to many clubs about him, as I do with all of our high-potential players,\u201d Sydney FC sporting director Alex Baumjohann said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is being closely monitored and it is easy to see why, and that\u2019s why we extended his contract. He is only going to get better and we expect him to take another big step in his development this season. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe FIFA Under-17 World Cup in November will also be a great opportunity for him to showcase his quality on the world stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former Sydney FC defender Jake Girdwood-Reich is poised to join Scottish Premiership club Motherwell from American Major League Soccer outfit St. Louis City.<\/p>\n
Girdwood-Reich left the Sky Blues in 2024 for the American club before returning to the A-League last season on loan to Auckland FC and was part of the Black Knights\u2019 title-winning team.<\/p>\n
Motherwell\u2019s squad already includes striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, who had a loan spell with the Sky Blues last season, as well as former Wellington Phoenix and Auckland goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, who has joined the Steelmen on loan from English Premier League club Bournemouth after spending last season on loan at Polish club Lechia Gdansk.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got a great feeling coming in here,\u201d the New Zealand international gloveman said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a clear vision, and I hope I can help the team achieve that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, former Melbourne Victory winger Reno Piscopo is close to joining Indonesian club Persik Kediri, while ex-Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets winger Trent Buhagiar has joined Thai club Uthai Thani after parting ways with Singapore Premier League outfit Tampines Rovers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former Melbourne Victory coach Arthur Diles is understood to have taken charge of Vietnamese club Cong An Ho Chi Minh City.<\/p>\n
Diles and Victory parted ways in May after the 44-year-old mentor wasn\u2019t offered a new contract.<\/p>\n
Diles\u2019 first signing at his new club is set to be Wellington Phoenix skipper Alex Rufer.<\/p>\n